A Monaghan food producer is facing trial accused of unlawfully importing 8.5kilos of a powerful hallucinogenic drug which he claims is a legal substance.

Marcus McCabe (56) with an address of Burdautien, in Clones, appeared at Dublin District Court to face a charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

He is accused of unlawfully importing a substance called N,N-Dimethyltryptamine at Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport on November 13, 2014. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had directed summary disposal meaning the case should remain in the district court which can impose a 12-month sentence for the offence.

Judge Conal Gibbons asked to hear an outline of the prosecution evidence.